According to a report by Jeff Zeleny at the New York Times, the first major female vice presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, passed away today at the age of 75 due to complications from blood cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Her family has released this statement regarding the loss:

"Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice. To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed."

After being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, Ferraro went on to serve New York's ninth congressional district for three terms. She also served as Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1984 presidential election.